A lesson learned not to be quick on the gun. TWICE i cycle my two different tanks and getting the biological filter started. But I was impatient and filled the tank with fish about two days later. Ammonia levels were so high with in a couple of weeks with no help in sight. OUCH and a big waste of money. I let them cycle for a real long time now.
cycling for long enough
- Thread starter smellsfishy
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There are some products you can buy to help start your bio filter. Also start by putting some fish in that are not expensive. They will help get the filter going and if they die you are not out much money.I usually put some zebras in first untill my tank has had a chance to cycle for a couple of weeks. Then just make sure that your levels are in range and you should be ready to go.
Throw a chunk of raw shrimp in your tank, and let it rot for a few weeks.
Vwa-la, you're tank is cycled and you didn't lose a single fish.
Keep in mind, when your adding fish your biological filtration must build up to that level. Many people think "Oh great, now my tank is cycled!" and they go and add 20 fish and still get the 'mysterious' ammonia spike in the tank that was 'already cycled..'
Miles
Vwa-la, you're tank is cycled and you didn't lose a single fish.
Keep in mind, when your adding fish your biological filtration must build up to that level. Many people think "Oh great, now my tank is cycled!" and they go and add 20 fish and still get the 'mysterious' ammonia spike in the tank that was 'already cycled..'
Miles
I've always found that if you siphon the water from an established tank into a new tank, the water will be fully cycled within a week. this is from my experience and adding a few cups of gravel or substrate from an established tank into a new will also cycle the water in less time. I recently cycled a new 180 gallon freshwater tank in less than a week with this method. I was able to put two silver arrowanas and two large clown knife fish with no problems in water quality into the 180 within a week.
FYI, Water holds little/no nitrifying bacteria content.
Nitrobacter and Nitrosomas grow best in highly oxygenated area, in other words, filters. Use existing filtration media/filters, and you will cycle a tank faster.
Adding old water, just adds unwanted pollutants and nitrates.
Nitrobacter and Nitrosomas grow best in highly oxygenated area, in other words, filters. Use existing filtration media/filters, and you will cycle a tank faster.
Adding old water, just adds unwanted pollutants and nitrates.
Agreed. ive added old existing filter media on new tanks and it gets the job done. Good Lessons Learned tip !
Miles said:
Yup....get it ready to roll, and to a quicky filter swap and ....yeaaaaah, she's ready to smack down on the $hickac
I also usually start the cycling by adding old filter media and if using an undergravel filter I use some gravel from an established tank. I usually cycle with dianos, guppies and neons, added a few at a time, they end up mostly as feeders. It takes acouple of weeks beforwe I feel ready to add any "real" fish and I add them least agressive to most. I have almost as much fun planning the tank as I do keeping it.
I keep several sponge filters in my established tanks. Pull one out of a couple tanks and throw them in the new tank, replace the ones removed with new. VOILA.
Put the used ones in the new tank and give em a shake.
Put the used ones in the new tank and give em a shake.
I did not know that adding the water from an existing tank was of no use even though I had a feeling it might be the case. When I just set up a 55 for the a baby tig and ten african aros I was supposed to be getting uhh a week ago now.. I siphoned from my 120 into the 55.. and then I took the emperor off the 120 as well and got it running on the 55. I also have 5-8 african cichlids in there.